Golf toss game

ABSTRACT

An advanced golf toss game that is interesting and more challenging for the entire family includes at least two stands with each stand having a base for disposition on the ground and a vertically extending frame that includes two spaced-apart upright members with at least two curved step-like target bars extending between and attached to the upright members with one target bar being the lower target and one target being the upper target. Each step-like target bar includes two horizontal tubular sections or bars joined by a vertically extending bar to form the curvilinear shape and each bar has a point value associated with it so that two players—or teams of players—can toss in alternating turns stringed pairs of golf balls at the opposite upper and lower targets within the frame in an attempt to hook and wrap their teams stringed golf ball pairs onto the bars for accumulating points to win the game.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention pertains to outdoor recreational games, and moreparticularly pertains to an advanced and more challenging golf toss gamethan is currently available.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Although electronic games, video games, and television dominate theleisure activities of many people, there is still a place for simplergames, games that don't require the individual to sit in front of thecomputer screen or television screen. For example, board games are stillpopular—witness the still continuing strong sales of the Monopoly boardgame and the games of chess, checkers, and yahztee. In addition, at outdoor activities such as parties (baptisms, communions, quinceros,graduations, etc.), family gatherings, picnics, tailgating parties, andother social events, games are also played that don't requireelectronics and joysticks. Such games can include croquet, volleyball,Frisbee toss, badminton, softball, kickball, soccer and horseshoes.Also, various types of games of more recent vintage have been inventedthat require tossing balls, darts, or arrows at targets. The targets canbe set up on stands or supports or laid upon the ground, and such gamescan be played by teams with points awarded on an individual or teambasis. The games are usually simple to set up and have relativelystraightforward rules, and the prior art discloses a number of suchgames.

For example, the Welbourn patent (U.S. Pat. No. 4,487,419) discloses aprojectile game apparatus that includes one elevated undulate crossbaronto which bolas are hurled for engagement thereto in a scored sequence.

The Wehr patent (U.S. Pat. No. 5,575,480) discloses a toss gameapparatus that has a dual use wherein the target can be used as a targetfor projectiles and as a support when throwing the projectiles at thetarget.

The Lynch patent (U.S. Pat. No. 6,773,014 B2) discloses a game ofgung-ho that includes a support having spaced-apart rungs and on whichprojectiles are tossed so that they wrap around the horizontal rungs forplaying and scoring the game.

The Gove patent (U.S. Pat. No. 6,889,982 B1) discloses an indoor/outdoorgame that includes a freestanding upright having at least three targetzones each of which has a different sized forward opening into whichprojectiles are thrown and scored if they successfully lodge in theforward opening.

The Reid patent (U.S. Pat. No. 6,308,956 B1) discloses a ball and laddergame that includes tossing a plurality of tethered balls onto horizontalbars to vary the level of skill of the game.

The Lynch patent (U.S. patent publication no. 2002/0084588 A1) disclosesa target game with rungs wherein the spacing between the horizontalrungs is one-half the spacing of the massive ends of the projectilesthat are tossed onto the horizontal rungs.

The Vande Hey et al. (U.S. Design D478,938 S) discloses a yard gametarget that includes a base and an upright having horizontal rungs ontowhich projectiles are tossed and scored as part of the play of the yardgame.

The Advocate patent (U.S. Pat. No. 7,198,273 B1) discloses a tossinggame system and method that includes a base and a collapsible ladderwith multiple horizontal rungs for tossing projectiles thereon as partof the game playing process.

Nonetheless, despite the ingenuity of the above devices, there remains aneed for an advanced golf toss game that is more interesting andchallenging than other similar games currently on the available.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention comprehends an advanced golf toss game in whichpairs of golf balls stringed together are tossed at curvilinear orstep-like target bars in an attempt to wrap the stringed golf ballsaround the target bars thereby scoring points so that the individual orteam with the most points wins the game. The step-like target bars makeit harder to toss the stringed golf balls for hooking and wrapping themabout the step-like target bars than tossing and hooking stringed golfballs about straight horizontally disposed and extending piping,conduit, or bars.

Thus, the golf toss game of the present invention includes a pair ofstands and each stand includes a base comprised of at least four basemembers connected together by base elbows. Extending upwardly from thetwo base members that comprise the opposed side base members are a pairof upright members with one upright member attached to one base memberand one upright member attached to the other base member. A cross bar orcrosspiece extends between and connects to the upright members at therespective upper ends of the upright members.

Extending between the upright members is at least one pair of step-liketarget bars at which the stringed pairs of golf balls are thrown in anattempt to hook or wrap the stringed pairs of golf balls about thestep-like target bars. Each step-like bar is composed of at least threeseparate tubular sections or bars two of which are horizontallyextending and one of which is vertically extending with the verticallyextending bar joining the two horizontally extending bars. This givesthe step-like target bars an exaggerated or elongated s-shape curve orcurvilinear configuration. The step-like target bars are located in thesame plane as the upright members and the crossbar with the uprightmembers and the crossbar serving as the frame for supporting thestep-like target bars. In addition, the step-like target bars providemore challenge for players than tossing a projectile at a straight bar.Each frame thus includes one pair of upright members, one crossbar, andtwo step-like target bars spaced from each other and more particularlydenoted the lower target and the upper target.

The step-like target bars are thus located in the same vertical planewith one step-like target bar being the lower target and one step-liketarget bar being the upper target. Moreover, the horizontally extendingsections or bars of each target bar have point values assigned to themstarting with the bars that compose the upper target and continuing inascending point value to the horizontally extending bars that composethe lower target. The stringed pairs of golf balls include at least sixsets of stringed golf balls with each set consisting of three stringedpairs of golf balls (two golf balls connected by one string), and thestrings for each set of stringed golf balls having different colors todifferentiate the opposing players or teams. Each team is given threesets of stringed balls and the stands are set up at least 21 feet fromeach other. The base, the upright members, the cross bar, the separatebars that comprise each step-like target bar and all the elbows and teesused to join the elements of each frame or framework member arecomprised of PVC pipe or conduit, PVC elbows, PVC tees, and PVC gluethereby making assembly and disassembly quick and easy, and without theneed to utilize hand tools.

It is an objective of the present invention to provide a golf toss gamethat is an interesting and challenging game for families to play withfun-filled advanced golf ball tossing and throwing.

It: is another objective of the present invention to provide a golf tossgame that provides hours of fin for people at parties, familygatherings, tailgating parties, and other social events and outdooractivities.

It is yet another objective of the present invention to provide a golftoss game that is made from PVC piping and thus is durable for giving along and useful life.

It is still yet another objective of the present invention to provide agolf toss game that is quickly and easily assembled and disassembledwith no tools and is reasonably priced.

Still another objective of the present invention is to provide a golftoss game that allows parents and children to interact while workingboth the mind and the body engaged in a fun-filled, wholesome activity.

Still yet another objective of the present invention is to provide agolf toss game that can be played by two to six players and can beadapted to accommodate up to 12 individuals.

These and other objects, features, and advantages will become apparentto those skilled in the art upon a perusal of the following detaileddescription read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing figuresand appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the golf toss game of the presentinvention illustrating the frame and base and a pair of stringed golfballs that have been tossed at the frame for hooking onto the step-liketarget bars;

FIG. 2 is a sectioned elevational view of the golf toss game of thepresent invention illustrating one stringed pair of golf balls;

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of the golf toss game of the presentinvention illustrating one stringed golf ball pair wrapped about thecross bar, one stringed golf ball pair wrapped about one scoring sectionof the upper step-like target bar denoted the three point bar, and onestringed golf ball pair wrapped about the section of the lower step-likebar denoted the four point bar;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the golf toss game of the presentinvention illustrating the frame and the base;

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the golf toss game of the present inventionillustrating the spacing of the stands from each other;

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the golf toss game of the present inventionillustrating the disposition of the stands and the players for playingthe golf toss game; and

FIG. 7 is a sectioned elevational view of the golf toss game of thepresent invention illustrating the slidable reciprocable continuousmovement of the step-like target bars up and down along the uprightmembers of the frame to adjust the vertical distance between the targetbars and thus to alter the difficulty of the game.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Illustrated in FIGS. 1-7 is an advanced golf toss game 10 that is morechallenging and interesting than other types of golf toss gamescurrently available and which can be played by individuals, families,employees, teenagers, college students, etc., at all sorts of outdooractivities, gatherings, events, and occasions. All of the structuralelements of the golf toss game 10 are composed of PVC piping or conduitthereby giving the golf toss game 10 durability and a long and usefullife. In addition, the golf toss game 10 of the present invention can beeasily assembled and disassembled without the use of tools, and it isreasonably priced.

Thus, as shown in FIGS. 1-7, the advanced golf toss game 10 of thepresent invention includes at least two stands 12 for playing the game10. Each stand 12 includes a base 14—generally square-shaped—that iscomprised of a plurality of tubular elongated base members 16 of varyinglengths that rest upon the ground to support other elements hereinafterfurther described. The base members 16 are interconnected by a pluralityof base elbows 18 at the four corners of the base 14, and by severalbase tees 20. Each base tee 20 includes a base tee socket 22 that isupwardly opening. The base members 16 can be further delineated as theside members or sections, the front member and the rear member. The basetees 20 are generally located midway on both side sections to form theside sections and to support elements of the stand 12 hereinafterfurther described.

As shown in FIGS. 1-7, mounted to the base 14, and, more specifically,secured to the base tees 20 is a frame or framework 24. The frame 24 iscentrally located on the base 14 and extends vertically upwardlytherefrom. The frame 24 includes a pair of spaced-apart upright members26 with one upright member 26 connected to the socket 22 of one base tee20 and the other upright member 26 connected to the socket 22 of theother base tee 20. Each upright member 26 is further composed ofseparate tubular pieces or piping of varying lengths that are adjoinedby PVC tees designated as the frame tees 28. Each upright member 26defines a lower end 30 and an opposite upper end 32. Extending acrossthe frame 24 at the upper ends 32 is a crosspiece or cross bar 34 thatconnects to the upper ends 32 of each upright member 26 by frame elbows36 and provides further stability to the frame 24 as a whole.

As shown in FIGS. 1-7, the targets at which players throw objects orprojectiles to be hereinafter further described include at least twostep-like target bars 38 that are spaced from each and extend betweenand are secured to the upright members 26 along their verticalextensions by the frame tees 28. Each step-like target bar 38 has ans-shaped or curvilinear shape or configuration. Such s-shaped orcurvilinear configuration provides for a more challenging and difficultgame. The step-like target bars 38 can be further defined as an uppertarget and a lower target.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1-7, each step-like target bar 38 is furtherdefined by comprising at least three separate bars or tubular sectionsthat are interconnected by a plurality of frame elbow 36—at least fourelbows 36 in the preferred embodiment. Thus, each step-like target bar38 is composed of two horizontally extending straight barsinterconnected by a vertically extending tubular section or bar having ashorter length than the horizontally extending bars. For each step-liketarget bar 38 one of the two horizontally extending bars or tubularsections is located at a higher elevation relative to the uprightmembers 26 than the other horizontally extending bar or tubular section.This creates the s-shaped or curvilinear configuration for the targetbars 38—that is the upper and lower targets. In addition, it should benoted that the step-like target bars 38 are located in the same plane asthe upright members 26 and the crosspiece 34, i.e. the target bars 38are coplanar with the frame 24 itself. The various elbows 18 and 36 andtees 20 and 28 allow the base 14, the frame 24 and the step-like targetbars 38 to be assembled and disassembled easily and quickly therebyfacilitating the set-up, breakdown, storage, and transport of the golftoss game 10.

As shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 3, and 6, the game 10 is played by alternatelytossing, just as in horseshoes and lawn darts, objects or projectiles atthe target bars 38. In the golf toss game 10 the object that is tossedis a pair of balls 40, such as golf balls, stringed and connected toeach other by a string 42. To differentiate between teams, the strings42—and if desired the golf balls 40—will have two different colors.Normally six sets of stringed pairs of golf balls 40 and 42 are providedwith each player or each team being given three sets of the same coloredstringed golf ball pairs 40 and 42. The players 44 toss the stringedpairs of golf balls 40 and 42 at the targets bars 38 in an attempt tosuccessfully hook and wrap each stringed pairs of golf balls 40 and 42about the target bars 38 thereby earning for themselves or their teamspoints for successfully doing so with the sections of the target bars 38having different point values associated therewith as will be more fullydescribed hereinafter.

Illustrated in FIG. 7 is an alternative mounting means for the step-liketarget bars 38—the upper and lower targets—that allows the step-liketarget bars 38 to be continuously slidably linearly adjustable up anddown along the vertical extension of the upright members 26. Thus, theslidably adjustable mounting means allows the players 44 to vary thedistance between the step-like target bars 38 thereby varying the levelof difficulty of the game 10. As shown in FIG. 7 the target bars 38 aremounted to the upright members 26 by collars 46 that encompass and slideover and upon the upright members 26. Arrows 48 indicate the vertical upand down slidable movement of the target bars 38 upon the uprightmembers 26. The target bars 38 are slidably adjustable along the uprightmembers 26 independent of each other (only the target bar 38 denoted theupper target is shown in FIG. 7), and when one or both target bars 38have been appropriately adjusted, they are fixed in place by tighteninga fastening member 50, such as a bolt, through the collar 46 and againstthe upright members 26. The slidably adjustable mounting means shown inFIG. 7 allows the target bars 38 to be vertically and precisely adjustedto a wide range of positions along the lengths of the upright members26, instead of just to predetermined discrete positions along theupright members 26 as defined and set by through holes or apertures thatwould be spaced along the vertical extension of the upright members 26.

With particular reference to FIG. 3, the point system is as follows. Thecross bar 34 is worth one point, and then proceeding clockwise thetubular bar or section 52 at the upper left hand of the target bar 38denoted the upper target is worth two points, the other tubular bar orsection 54 for the upper target, and on the right hand, is worth threepoints, the tubular bar or section 56 for the target bar 38 denoted thelower target and located immediately beneath the tubular bar 54 worththree points is worth five points, and finally the tubular bar orsection 58 on the left hand side and comprising the other section of thelower target is worth four points.

The golf toss game 10 is played similar to the well-known game ofhorseshoes. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, both stands 12 are assembled andthen set up at least 21 feet from each other as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6.The sets of stringed golf ball pairs 40 and 42 are then distributed tothe players 44 with each player or team having the same color for theirstringed golf balls 40 and 42. Normally the game 10 is played by two tosix players 44, but the game 10 can accommodate as many as 12 players.The individual players 44 or teams of players alternately take turns andattempt to successfully toss and hook or wrap the stringed golf ballpairs 40 and 42 around the crossbar 34 and the various sections 52-58 ofeach step-like target bar 38 thereby accumulating points for their team.The first player 44 or team to accumulate 31 points wins the game 10.Should an opponent ring his/her/their stringed golf ball pair 40 and 42around any section 52-58, or about the crossbar 34, of the same leveland point value that already has at least one stringed golf ball pair 40and 42 from the other player 44 or team, then both players 44 or teamspoints are canceled for that particular round.

The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms withoutdeparting from the spirit or essential attributes thereof and,accordingly, the described embodiments are to be considered in allrespects as being illustrative and not restrictive, with the scope ofthe invention being indicated by the appended claims, consonant with theforegoing detailed description, as indicating the scope of the inventionas well as all modifications which may fall within a range ofequivalency which are also intended to be embraced therein.

1. A golf toss game having a pair of stands at which projectiles arethrown to score and accumulate points, comprising: each stand includinga generally square-shaped base with the base including a plurality ofinterconnected base members; a frame mounted to and extending verticallyupwardly from the base and at which the projectiles are thrown; theframe including a pair of spaced-apart upright members mounted to andextending upwardly from the base members; each upright member includinga lower end and an opposite upper end; a crosspiece extending betweenand adjoining the upright members adjacent the upper ends thereof; atleast two step-like target bars mounted to the upright members andextending therebetween with the target bars being located in the sameplane as the crosspiece and the upright members; each target barincluding at least two horizontally extending tubular sectionsinterconnected by a vertically oriented tubular section; thehorizontally extending tubular sections of each target bar having aunique point value associated therewith and the target bars furtherdelineated as an upper target and a lower target; the projectilesincluding a plurality of pairs of balls with each pair of ballsconnected together by a string; and wherein players stand opposite ofeach stand and alternately toss the stringed pairs of balls at theframe, the crosspiece and the target bars in order to hook and wrap thestringed pairs of balls about the crosspiece and the tubular sections ofthe target bars for accumulating points with the first player to score apredetermined amount of points being declared the winner.
 2. A golf tossgame including a pair of stands at which projectiles are thrown in orderto score and accumulate points, comprising: each stand including agenerally square-shaped base with the base including a plurality ofinterconnected base members; a frame mounted to and extending verticallyupwardly from the base and at which the projectiles are thrown; theframe including a pair of spaced-apart upright members mounted to andextending upwardly from the base members; each upright member includinga lower end and an opposite upper end; a crosspiece extending betweenand adjoining the upright members adjacent the upper ends thereof; atleast two step-like target bars mounted to the upright members andextending therebetween with the target bars being located in the sameplane as the crosspiece and the upright members; each target barincluding at least two horizontally extending tubular sectionsinterconnected by a vertically oriented tubular section; the crosspieceand the horizontally extending tubular sections of each target barhaving a unique point value associated therewith; the projectilesincluding a plurality of pairs of balls with each pair of ballsconnected together by a string; and wherein players stand opposite ofeach stand and alternately toss the stringed pairs of balls at theframe, the crosspiece, and the target bars in order to hook and wrap thestringed pairs of balls about the crosspiece and the tubular sections ofthe target bars for accumulating points with the first player toaccumulate a predetermined amount of points being declared the winner.3. The golf toss game of claim 2 wherein the step-like target bars arefurther defined as an upper target and a lower target.
 4. The golf tossgame of claim 3 further including a slidably adjustable mounting meansfor mounting the step-like target bars to the upright members so thateach step-like target bar can be selectively and independentlyadjustable along the upright members to vary the distance of thestep-like target bars from each other.